Congress back to work today

(AP) — Republicans and Democrats put goodwill to the test as Congress returns this week. What lies in store are potentially incendiary fights over nominations, unresolved disputes over student loans, a farm bill, and the uncertainty of whether lawmakers will rewrite the nation’s immigration laws.

Last month’s cooperation in the Senate that passed the bipartisan immigration bill could be wiped out immediately if Majority Leader Harry Reid tries to scrap the three-fifths majority needed to pass bills for a simple majority.

Republican leader Mitch McConnell has indicated Reid could regret the change if the GOP seizes control in next year’s elections.

In that case, McConnell sees a long list of reversals, from repealing President Barack Obama’s signature health care law to shipping radioactive nuclear waste to Reid’s home state of Nevada.